Cassette attachment device for detecting intensity of test strip cassette

ABSTRACT

Techniques for fast and accurate measuring test strip intensities are disclosed herein. A cassette attachment device for detecting intensity of a test strip cassette includes a strip chamber configured to accommodate at least a portion of a test strip, a light source configured to provide illumination to the test strip cassette via indirect lighting, an attaching mechanism configured to attach the device to a mobile device, and a camera window configured to transmit light signal reflected from the test strip cassette such that the mobile device can capture an image of the test strip cassette illuminated by the light source.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/184,139, entitled “CASSETTE ATTACHMENT DEVICE FORDETECTING INTENSITY OF TEST STRIP CASSETTE”, filed on Jun. 24, 2015,which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to medical test strip systems, and inparticular to a system for fast and accurate test strip intensityrecognition.

BACKGROUND

Test strip cassettes, also known as flow immunochromatographic assays,are basic diagnostic instruments to detect the presence (or absence) ofa target analyte in sample (matrix). They are commonly used for medicaldiagnostics either for home testing, point of care testing, orlaboratory use. They can also be used for drug test, food test, watertest, etc.

For some test strip cassettes, the color intensities of the bands haveto exceed certain cutoff threshold values to indicate positive ornegative test results. So it is important to accurately determine theintensity values for these test strips. There are dedicated machines foraccurately reading the test strip results. These machines can controlthe testing lightning condition, are sensitive to test strip intensitychanges, and have computational and reporting capabilities. But thesemachines are typically expensive and cumbersome to move, and requiresprofessional training on how to operate the machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a cassette attachment device for detectingintensity of test strips.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detachable mobile device case to which the cassetteattachment device can mount.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the cassette attachment device when the capsare closed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sample process of detecting intensity of a teststrip.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a computer device that can bepart of the disclosed device or operate with the disclosed device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to cassette attachment device foraccurately measuring band intensities of test strip cassettes. Thecassette attachment device is designed to be attached to a computerdevice such as a mobile phone. The cassette attachment device securesthe cassette at a known location, provides uniform illumination to thecassette, and transmits the optical signals to the mobile phone. Themobile phone collects the optical signals and analyzes the image of thecassette to determine the band intensities. Such a cassette attachmentdevice is cheaper to manufacture, comparing to a standalone device foraccommodating the cassette, capturing the image of the cassette andanalyzing the image. The result is highly accurate because the cassetteattachment device secures the cassette at a known location and providesuniform illumination to the cassette.

The test strip cassettes have one or more bands (or pads) impregnatedwith chemicals that react with the compounds present in the test fluid.For certain test strip cassettes such as test strip cassettes fordetecting heart diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), ordiabetes, the color intensities of the bands have to exceed certaincutoff threshold values to indicate positive test results. Therefore, itis important to accurately detect the intensities of the bands on thesetest strip cassettes in order to achieve reliable biological testresults.

FIG. 1A illustrates a cassette attachment device 100 for detectingintensity of test strips, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the present disclosure provides acassette attachment device 100 for accurately capturing images of thetest strip cassettes and recognizing the intensities of the test stripbands. The cassette attachment device includes a strip chamber 112 toaccommodate the test strip cassette 102. In some embodiments, a portionof the test strip cassette 102 can be inserted into the strip chamber112 while the other portion of the test strip cassette could be outsidethe chamber. Once all components of the cassette attachment device 100are closed, the cassette attachment device 100 forms a black box thatencloses the whole test strip cassette 102 or the test string “inner”window 103. Thus, light outside of the cassette attachment device 100cannot reach the reading surface of the test strip cassette 102 or“inner window” 103 and can not impact the intensity reading of the bands104.

The cassette attachment device 100 includes a light source 116. Thelight source 116 can be, e.g., a light emitting diode (LED). Because nolight outside of the cassette attachment device 100 can reach the teststrip cassette 102 or “inner window” 103 when the device 100 is closed,the light source 116 is the only light source that provides lightillumination to the test strip cassette 102 or the inner window. Thecontrol of the light source ensures that the test bands 104 isilluminated constantly for image capturing purpose.

The cassette attachment device 100 further includes a camera window 120.The shape of the camera window 120 is configured to fit a cameracomponent of a mobile device. The mobile device can be a cellphone, asmart phone, a tablet, a digital camera, or any device capable ofcapturing an image of the test strip cassette 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detachable mobile device case 200, according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure. The separate mobile device case200 can be detachably secured to the mobile device. In one embodiment,the mobile device case is secured to the mobile device with magneticcomponents embedded. Thus, the cassette attachment device 100 can beproperly attached to the mobile device case via the magnetic attractionforce between the magnetic components embedded in the upper cap 126 andthe mobile device case.

The camera window 120 of the cassette attachment device 100 can attachto a camera component of the mobile device (via the mobile device case200 or by other means). Though the camera window 120, the cameracomponent of the mobile device can guide the light reflected from thetest strip cassette 102 or the inner window 103 onto its imaging sensorand therefore capture an image of the test strip cassette 102 or the“inner window” 103.

In some embodiments, the cassette attachment device 100 can include aflash window 124. The flash window 124 is positioned so that a flashcomponent of the mobile device can flash light into the flash window124, when the cassette attachment device 100 is properly attached to themobile device. Thus, for embodiments that include the flash window 124,the flash component of the mobile device can be the light sourceproviding light to the test strip cassette 102.

The mobile device can run a strip recognition application to capture theimage of the test strip cassette 102 using the camera component of themobile device. The strip recognition application may also adjust theintensity of the light source 116 or the flash component and the focusand exposure parameters of the camera component of the mobile device.Illumination intensities and camera parameters of mobile devices can bedifferent depending the models and configurations of the mobile devices,the strip recognition application can correct them with pre-definedalgorithms.

For embodiments that include the light source 116 inside of the cassetteattachment device 100, the flash window 124 may not be necessary sincethe cassette attachment device 100 already has its own light source.Once the light source 116 turns on to provide light to the readingsurface of the test strip cassette 102, the strip recognitionapplication running on the mobile device can instruct the cameracomponent of the mobile device to capture an image of the test strip.Since the light intensity of the light source 116 is constant and knownto the strip recognition application, the images of the test stripcassettes are captured under the same lighting condition. In otherwords, the lighting condition for the test strip cassettes does notdepend on model of the model device or ambient lighting condition.

The strip recognition application further analyzes the captured imageand recognizes the intensity or intensities of the one or more bands 104on the test strip cassette 102. The strip recognition application canthen visualize the intensities by, e.g., presenting numerals on adisplay component of the mobile device, storing the numerical values ofthe intensities in a storage component of the mobile device, or sendingout the numerical values of the intensities via a wired or wirelessnetwork.

For example, the strip recognition application can send the intensityvalues to a cloud server. The cloud server can then compare theintensity values with the calibration data (e.g., a calibration curve)stored in the cloud server. The cloud server then can determine a testvalue (e.g., concentration of certain matters in the test fluid) basedon the one or more intensity values. The strip recognition applicationcan retrieve the test value from the cloud server and present the testvalue on the display component, optionally accompanied with explanationor recommendation.

The outside case of the cassette attachment device 100 can includemultiple separate pieces that can be attached together. For example, thecassette attachment device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1A includes upper cap126, lower cap 130, front cap 134 and back cap 138. The caps 126, 130,134 and 138 can be attached together by mechanical means (e.g., pins andholes). The caps 126, 130, 134 and 138 can further include magneticcomponents such that the caps 126, 130, 134 and 138 attach to each othervia magnetic forces. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the cassette attachmentdevice 100 when the caps 126, 130, 134 and 138 are closed.

The cassette attachment device 100 includes a control circuit 140 and abattery 150 (not shown in FIG. 1A). The control circuit 140 includes acontrol chip 144 (not shown in the figures) electrically connected tothe light source 116. The control chip 144 ensures that the light source116 emit a light having a constant and predetermined intensity. In otherwords, the control chip 144 ensures the emitted light remains theconstant lumen intensity regardless of the condition or energy level ofthe battery 150 and outside conditions. For example, the control chip144 can ensure the constant lumen intensity by supplying constant andpredetermined electrical current and voltage to the light source 116, insome embodiments.

The control circuit 140 and the battery 150 can be enclosed in anelectrical box 148. The electrical box 148 is positioned and fixed inthe cassette attachment device 100. For example, the electrical box 148may have an edge 149 that fits into a groove 152 on the lower cap 130,as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

The cassette attachment device 100 further includes a collimator 160such as a parabolic reflector having reflecting surfaces coated withreflecting paper. FIG. 1A shows the bottom half of the parabolicreflector 160 on the lower cap 130, while the non-shown top half of theparabolic reflector 160 is on the upper cap 126. The collimator 160 ispositioned in proximity to the light source 116 to ensure the light fromthe light source 116 disperses minimally as the light propagates andform parallel lights.

Furthermore, some or all surfaces of the cassette attachment device 100,e.g., the inner surfaces of the caps 126, 130, 134 and 138, can havereflective mirror(s) (e.g., reflective coatings) or diffusing paper toreflect the light back to the reading surface of the test strip cassette102. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate that the light source 116,the collimator 160 and reflective mirror(s) 172 form a light engine forproviding indirect light that is uniformly transmitted onto the readingsurface of the test strip cassette 102 and “inner window” 103.

To ensure a relatively uniform illumination of the reading surface ofthe test strip cassette 102, the light engine is designed such that themajority of light emitted by the light source 116 does not reach thetest strip cassette 102 directly. Most of the light emitted by the lightsource 116 is reflected by the collimator 160 and the reflective mirror172 (and in some embodiments other inner surface) of the cassetteattachment device before the light reaches the test strip cassette 102.The design improves the illumination uniformity of the test stripcassette 102 and reduces the space needed between the light source 116and the test strip cassette 102.

The light source 116 (e.g., an LED chip, especially a surface-mountedLED chip) has a dominant wavelength based on the physical property ofthe light source 116 (e.g., depending on the semiconductor bandgap ofthe LED chip). The cassette attachment device 100 can include varioustypes of light source 116 with different dominant wavelengths to matchthe optical reflection or absorption nature of the band(s) on the teststrip cassette 102. For example, the light source 116 can be an LED chipemitting visible light (e.g., blue light).

In one embodiment, the test strip cassette 102 contains florescence band(or bands), and the light source 116 can be an LED chip emittingultraviolet (UV) light. The florescence band absorbs the UV light andemits light at visible region. The emitted light travels through thecamera window 120 and is captured by the camera component of the mobiledevice. In some embodiments, using florescence sensitive band and UVillumination can increase the sensitivity to noise ratio and thusimprove the reading accuracy.

In another embodiment, the test strip cassette 102 contains one or morebands that absorb infrared (IR) light provided by an IR LED chip andemit light at visible region. In some embodiments, the signalsensitivity of the IR test strip bands can be much higher than thesensitivity of the UV or visible test strip bands.

A optical filter can be installed in front of the camera to improved thesignal to noise ratio by letting lights in certain wavelength range passbut other wavelength range blocked. This can also increase thesensitivity to noise ratio and thus improve the reading accuracy

In some embodiments, the strip recognition application running on themobile device does not retrieve any additional information from thecassette attachment device 100, other than the image of the test stripcassette 102 captured through the camera window 120. Since the lightsource 116, controlled by the control chip 144, provides a constant andpredetermined illumination, the illumination condition of the test stripcassette 102 is known to the strip recognition application, prior to thecapturing of the test strip cassette image. In some other embodiments,the cassette attachment device can include wireless or wired interfaceto communicate additional information to the mobile device. For example,the cassette attachment device can transmit a RFID (radio-frequencyidentification) signal to indicate the type of the test strip, athreshold intensity value for the test strip, or the illuminationintensity value.

The camera window 120 can include a collimating lens 121 (not shown inthe figures). The collimating lens 121 enables the camera component ofthe mobile device to take a clear picture of the test strip cassette102, even that the distance between the test strip cassette 102 and thecamera component is shorter than the designed minimum focus distance ofthe camera component. For example, an on-board camera of a mobile smartphone may have a minimum focus distance of about 3.5 inches. That meanswithout helps of external components, the on-board camera cannot take aclear picture of anything closer than 3.5 inches, due to the opticallimitation of the on-board camera. However, with the help of thecollimating lens 121, the on-board camera is able to take a clearpicture of the test strip cassette 102, even that the distance betweenthe test strip cassette 102 and the on-board camera is less than 3.5inches when the cassette attachment device 100 is properly inserted intothe mobile device.

In some embodiments, the test strip cassette 102 may provide additionaldata to the strip recognition application. For example, the surface ofthe test strip cassette 102 can include a two-dimensional bar code(e.g., QR code). The strip recognition application recognizes the barcode from the captured image of the test strip cassette 102, and decodesthe bar code to decoded information. The decoded information may includedata regarding the test strip, e.g., type of the test strip cassette102, type(s) of the test strip band(s), cutoff threshold value(s) forthe test strip band(s), etc.

In some embodiments, the test strip cassette 102 may have pre-definedmarker printed on it. This will make it easy for the recognitionapplication to find the location of the test bands.

In some embodiments, the cassette attachment device 100 may include awired or wireless communication interface 165 (e.g., WiFi, LAN,Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC, etc.). The communication interface 165 cancommunicate with the strip recognition application to provideinformation regarding the test strip cassette 102 or informationregarding the cassette attachment device 100 itself. Furthermore, thestrip recognition application may control the cassette attachment device100 via the communication interface 165. For example, the striprecognition application may instruct the control chip 144 via thecommunication interface 165 to adjust the light intensity of the lightsource 116.

In some embodiments, the cassette attachment device 100 includes a powersupply interface that is configured to receive power from an externalpower source or from the mobile device. For example, the power supplyinterface can be a USB port that can receive power based on the USBprotocol. The USB port can be connected to an AC power plug or anotherelectronic device to receive power. In some other embodiments, thecassette attachment device 100 includes an energy harvesting componentthat is configured to derive energy from external sources (e.g., kineticenergy, solar power, thermal energy, electrical magnetic wave, etc.).For example, the energy harvesting component can be a piezoelectriccomponent configured to convert mechanical strain into electric energy.Alternatively, the energy harvesting component can be a magneticinduction device configured to generate micro-currents by magneticvibration relative to a conductor.

The cassette attachment device 100 may itself include an internal cameracomponent instead of the camera window 120. In that case, the controlcircuit 140 controls the operations of the light source 116 as well asthe internal camera component. The control circuit 140 instructs thelight source 116 to provide proper light illumination to the test stripcassette 102, and then instructs the internal camera component to take apicture of the reading surface of the test strip cassette 102. Thecassette attachment device 100 then transmits the image data to anotherelectric device (e.g., a mobile device or a computer) for furtheranalysis, via the communication interface 165.

The test strip cassette 102 reflects the light generated by the lightsource though the camera window 120. In some embodiments, the test stripcassette 102 includes fluorescent materials or nanomaterials that absorbsome of the light and emit light at a different wavelength. A cameracomponent of the mobile device captures the light reflected or emittedfrom the test strip cassette 102 though the camera window 120, and takesa picture of the test strip cassette 102. Then the mobile deviceanalyzes the captured image of the test strip cassette 102 anddetermines the intensity or intensities of the band(s) of the test stripcassette 102. The details of the analysis of the capture image isdisclosed in a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/169,066, entitled“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FAST TEST STRIP INTENSITY RECOGNITION”, filedon Jan. 30, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sample process 500 for detecting intensity of atest strip, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Atblock 502, a battery of a cassette attachment device supplies electricalenergy to a light source of the cassette attachment device, the cassetteattachment device being attached to a mobile device. At block 504, acontrol circuit of the cassette attachment device maintains outputintensity of the light source as a constant regardless of the energylevel of the battery.

At block 506, the light source generates a first light. At block 508, aparabolic reflector of the cassette attachment device collimates thefirst light generated by the light source. At block 510, a reflectingmirror disposed on an inner surface of the cassette attachment devicereflects the first light onto a surface of a test strip cassette toilluminate the test strip. The test strip cassette is inserted into thecassette attachment device. The light source, parabolic reflector andthe reflected mirror form a light engine to ensure that a majority ofthe light are indirect light which are reflected before reaching thesurface of the test strip.

At block 512, the surface of the test strip cassette reflects the firstlight into the second light, or at least a portion of the test stripcassette absorbs the first light and emits the second light. In someembodiments, the first light includes ultraviolet (UV) light, and thetest strip cassette includes fluorescent materials that absorb the UVlight and emit visible light. In some other embodiments, the first lightincludes infrared (IR) light, and the test strip cassette includesnanoscale materials that absorb the IR light and emit visible light.

At block 514, a camera window of the cassette attachment devicetransmits the second light reflected or emitted from the test strip, toreach a camera component of the mobile device.

At block 516, a camera component of the mobile device captures an imageof the test strip cassette by guiding the second light onto a digitalimaging sensor. At block 518, the mobile device determines an intensityvalue of a band of the test trip based on the captured image of the teststrip. In some embodiments, the mobile device can further detect abarcode from the image of the test strip. The barcode may be printed ona surface of the test strip. The mobile device can decode the barcodeinto data about certain property of the test strip cassette (e.g., typeof the test strip, cutoff threshold value, etc.).

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a computer device that can bepart of the disclosed device or operate with the disclosed device.

In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone deviceor may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a client-server network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personalcomputer (PC), a user device, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a set-topbox (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, aniPhone, an iPad, a Blackberry, a processor, a telephone, a webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, a console, a hand-heldconsole, a (hand-held) gaming device, a music player, any portable,mobile, hand-held device, or any machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine.

While the machine-readable medium or machine-readable storage medium isshown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term“machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encodingor carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and thatcause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of thepresently disclosed technique and innovation.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of thedisclosure, may be implemented as part of an operating system or aspecific application, component, program, object, module or sequence ofinstructions referred to as “computer programs.” The computer programstypically comprise one or more instructions set at various times invarious memory and storage devices in a computer, and that, when readand executed by one or more processing units or processors in acomputer, cause the computer to perform operations to execute elementsinvolving the various aspects of the disclosure.

Moreover, while embodiments have been described in the context of fullyfunctioning computers and computer devices, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the various embodiments are capable of beingdistributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that thedisclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of machineor computer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution.

Further examples of machine-readable storage media, machine-readablemedia, or computer-readable (storage) media include, but are not limitedto, recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memorydevices, floppy and other removable disks, hard disk drives, opticaldisks (e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital VersatileDisks, (DVDs), etc.), among others, and transmission type media such asdigital and analog communication links.

The network interface device enables the machine to mediate data in anetwork with an entity that is external to the host server, through anyknown and/or convenient communications protocol supported by the hostand the external entity. The network interface device can include one ormore of a network adaptor card, a wireless network interface card, arouter, an access point, a wireless router, a switch, a multilayerswitch, a protocol converter, a gateway, a bridge, bridge router, a hub,a digital media receiver, and/or a repeater.

The network interface device can include a firewall which can, in someembodiments, govern and/or manage permission to access/proxy data in acomputer network, and track varying levels of trust between differentmachines and/or applications. The firewall can be any number of moduleshaving any combination of hardware and/or software components able toenforce a predetermined set of access rights between a particular set ofmachines and applications, machines and machines, and/or applicationsand applications, for example, to regulate the flow of traffic andresource sharing between these varying entities. The firewall mayadditionally manage and/or have access to an access control list whichdetails permissions including for example, the access and operationrights of an object by an individual, a machine, and/or an application,and the circumstances under which the permission rights stand.

Other network security functions can be performed or included in thefunctions of the firewall, can be, for example, but are not limited to,intrusion-prevention, intrusion detection, next-generation firewall,personal firewall, etc. without deviating from the novel art of thisdisclosure.

1. A device for detecting intensity of bands on a test strip,comprising: a strip chamber configured to accommodate at least a portionof a test strip cassette; a light source configured to provide constantillumination to the test strip cassette via indirect lighting; anattaching mechanism configured to attach the device to a mobile devicehaving a camera component; and a camera window configured to transmitlight signal reflected from the test strip cassette through the camerawindow to the camera component of the mobile device such that the mobiledevice can capture an image of the test strip cassette illuminated bythe light source.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: adetachable mobile device case configured to enclose at least a portionof the mobile device; wherein the attaching mechanism is configured toattach the device to the detachable mobile device case for detecting theintensity of the test strip.
 3. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a power source; and a control circuit including anintegrated circuit (IC) chip configured to maintain output intensity ofthe light source as a constant regardless of the condition or energylevel of the power source.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:a collimator, in proximity to the light source, configured to minimizelight dispersion as the light emitted from the light source propagates.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the collimator is a parabolicreflector.
 6. The device of claim 4, further comprising: a casingcomponent; and at least one reflecting mirror disposed on an innersurface of the casing component; wherein the light source, collimatorand the at least one reflecting mirror form a light engine to provide aneven uniform light, a majority of the even light being emitted from thelight source, reflected by the collimator or the reflecting mirror, andreaching the test strip.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the camerawindow includes a collimating lens configured to reduce the focusingdistance of the mobile device such that the mobile device can take aclear picture of the test strip cassette through the camera window 8.The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a surface-mountedlight emitting diode (LED) chip.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein thestrip chamber and a casing component of the device form a black boxenclosing the portion of the test strip cassette such that light fromoutside of the device cannot reach a reading surface of the test strip.10. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a flash window configuredto transmit light generated from a flash component of the mobile deviceto the test strip.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising: aninternal camera component configured to capture an image of the teststrip cassette; and a communication interface configured to transfer theimage of the test strip cassette outside of the device by Bluetooth orWiFi.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the test strip cassetteincludes at least one pre-defined marker on a surface of the test stripcassette to help locating the bands of the test strip cassette.
 13. Amethod for detecting intensity of a test strip, comprising: generating afirst light by a light source of a cassette attachment device, thecassette attachment device being attached to a mobile device; guidingthe first light to illuminate a test strip cassette inserted into thecassette attachment device; and transmitting a second light reflected oremitted from the test strip cassette through a camera window of thecassette attachment device, to reach a camera component of the mobiledevice.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: capturing animage of the test strip cassette by the camera component of the mobiledevice using the second light; and determining an intensity value of aband of the test trip.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein a surface ofthe test strip cassette reflects the first light into the second light,or at least a portion of the test strip cassette absorbs the first lightand emits the second light.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein thefirst light includes ultraviolet (UV) light, and the test strip cassetteincludes fluorescent materials that absorb the UV light and emit visiblelight.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first light includesinfrared (IR) light, and the test strip cassette includes nanoscalematerials that absorb the IR light and emit visible light.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: supplying electrical energy, bya battery of the cassette attachment device, to the light source; andmaintaining, by a control circuit of the cassette attachment device,output intensity of the light source as a constant regardless of theenergy level of the battery.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein thestep of guiding the first light further comprises: collimating, by aparabolic reflector of the cassette attachment device, the first lightgenerated by the light source.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein thestep of guiding the first light further comprises: reflecting, by areflecting mirror disposed on an inner surface of the cassetteattachment device, the first light generated by the light source ontothe test strip.
 21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:detecting a barcode from the image of the test strip, the barcode beingprinted on a surface of the test strip; and decoding the barcode intodata about property of the test strip.
 22. A portable device fordetecting intensity of a test strip, comprising: a mobile device; and acassette attachment device including: a strip chamber configured toaccommodate at least a portion of a test strip, a light sourceconfigured to provide illumination to the test strip cassette viaindirect lighting, an attaching mechanism configured to mount the deviceto the mobile device, and a camera window configured to transmit lightsignal reflected from the test strip cassette such that the mobiledevice can capture an image of the test strip cassette illuminated bythe light source.
 23. The portable device of claim 22, furthercomprising: a detachable mobile device case configured to enclose atleast a portion of the mobile device; wherein the cassette attachmentdevice is configured to detachably mount onto the detachable mobiledevice case.
 24. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the cassetteattachment device further includes: a power source; and a controlcircuit configured to maintain output intensity of the light source as aconstant regardless of the condition or energy level of the powersource.
 25. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the cassetteattachment device further includes a parabolic reflector and at leastone reflecting mirror configured to guide light emitted from the lightsource to a surface of the test strip.
 26. The portable device of claim22, wherein the mobile device includes: a camera component configured tocapture an image of the test strip cassette through the camera window;and a processor configured to determine an intensity value of a band ofthe test trip based on the captured image of the test strip.
 27. Theportable device of claim 22, wherein the camera window includes a filterfor improving a sign-to-noise ratio of the image of the test stripcassette.